I first met Phil McKinney when I was hired to give a briefing on the state of gaming to top executives of Personal Systems Group at computer giant Hewlett-Packard.

I was impressed with the then-chief technology officer's questions and insights, and I really enjoyed the conversation we had about opportunities.

This last fall, McKinney announced his retirement from the company and his new role as a consultant focused on helping other companies - from start-ups to major brands - unleash a new level of creativity and innovate the way they do business. And in February, his first book, Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation, hit stores, garnering very positive press.

I recently discussed the book with Phil - and will post portions of that conversation over the next few days. We'll hear about some of the killer questions you need to ask to change the game for your organization, including how to get buy-in for your innovation agenda from those above you who might fee threatened by it.

Along the way, we'll hear what REALLY happened with WebOS; the short tenure of Leo Apothaker; and what Phil thinks of Meg Whitman in her new role as HP CEO.

It's a must-listen for anyone focused on driving innovation in their organization.